The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average increased from the previous week to a rounded value of 92. Temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Aug. 16 was 4.4% higher than during the same period in 2025. Compared with the July monthly report, staffing employment grew by 3.3%.

Staffing employment ticked down during the week of Aug. 10–16, with the ASA Staffing Index slightly declining by 0.1% to hold at a rounded value of 93. Staffing jobs were 5.5% higher compared with the same period last year, up from 5.2% recorded the previous week. New starts, however, increased during the 33rd week of the year, up 5.0% from the prior week. Nearly half of all staffing companies (49%) reported gains in new assignments week to week, above the average of 41% so far in 2026.

“Temporary and contract staffing employment continues to grow even as employers face an uncertain labor market,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA. “While the year-to-year difference in the ASA Staffing Index narrowed over the month of July, growth rebounded in August. Temporary employment continues to benefit from a cautious hiring environment driven by demand for flexible labor commitments.”

This week will be used in the August monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Sept. 4.